Editorial Review:

Amazon.com Item Description:
Music and entertainment, your way. That's what the Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player is designed to deliver. The Zune easily connects you with your music, videos, and pictures wherever and whenever you want, and unlike the iPod, it even has a built-in FM tuner so you can keep up with local news and sports. Your Zune gives you the power to wirelessly share full-length tracks, playlists, pictures and podcasts with your other Zune-wielding friends, and it is available in four bold colors. And when you receive songs that you just can't get out of your head, you can easily tag the songs and buy them the next time you sync up. Whether you're listening to music, radio, or rocking out to the latest music videos on the bright, roomy screen, the Zune allows you to tailor your entertainment, right in the palm of your hand. Watch a demo on Zune.

The Zune easily connects you with your music, videos, and pictures wherever and whenever you want, and it is available in four bold colors.

Share full-length tracks of your favorite songs, albums, playlists, pictures, and even audio podcasts with other Zune users. (Red Zune shown here with Dock Pack v2 with remote, sold separately.)

Store up to 2,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 25 hours of video.

Get all your favorite music at the Zune Marketplace.

Simple, Innovative Controls
The Zune is a breeze to use with new, intuitive touch controls. Don't subject yourself to cumbersome, slow scrolling. The innovative new Zune pad makes browsing your music, video and picture collections fun and effortless. You'll fly through your favorites and get to just what you're looking for in no time flat. This powerhouse device stores up to 2,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 25 hours of video. (Please note that music estimates are based on 128 kbps WMA files, with length of 4 minutes each; pictures transferred to Zune will be optimized for Zune screen size; and video estimates are based on 500 kbps WMV files with 128 kbps WMA audio tracks.)

That's a lot of entertainment, and you'll appreciate it even more with the Zune's awesome screen. The super-slim, ultra-portable Zune sports a durable, 1.8-inch color screen that provides uncompromising portable video viewing. This Zune also comes equipped with headphones and three pairs of foam headphones covers. Your favorite music, videos, and pictures have never looked and sounded better.

FM Radio
The Zune also features a built-in FM radio tuner so that you can listen to local FM stations or tune-in programming while you're at the gym. Advanced tuning capabilities allow you to see the name of the song that's currently playing on select frequencies.

Wireless Sync
We're all exhausted by the cables and wires that tangle up our lives. Luckily, the Zune is one device that doesn't require another cord. You can easily connect to your home wireless network and sync your Zune with your PC collection of digital goodies. You can also sync using the dock, AC adapter, or speaker dock accessory (not included).

The Zune Community and Marketplace
Zune is all about sharing and community. At the Zune Online Community, you'll discover, share, and leave your musical mark. Create a Zune card and Zune profile page to reflect your musical identity. From the Zune Online Community, you can invite friends, share song recommendations, post comments, and browse member pages to unearth new tunes and connect to others who share your musical tastes.

When you're ready to purchase music and load your device with new tunes, turn to Zune Marketplace. With more than 3 million songs, DRM-free MP3s, music videos, audio/video podcasts, and more content added every day, you'll certainly get your fill. The store is always open and just a mouse click away. You can also choose between the download or subscription packages--buy individual songs and albums, or snag a Zune Pass subscription with all you can eat access to discover and explore the nooks and crannies of artists and genres.

Zune-to-Zune Sharing
Once your Zune is loaded with good stuff, you'll be ready to embrace wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing. Share full-length tracks of your favorite songs, albums, playlists, pictures, and even audio podcasts. You can listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times, and you can even pass along songs that are shared with you to other friends. If you find a song you really love, you can easily add it to your wishlist and buy it later when you sync to your PC. When it comes to syncing and importing your music, the Zune makes it easy. Zune software can automatically import your existing music, pictures, and videos from iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats, including your existing playlists and song ratings.

Recorded TV or Movies to Go
The Zune will also automatically import TV shows or movies recorded using a PC running Windows Media Center in Windows Vista. Record all your favorites, sync to your Zune, and hit the road with your favorite TV shows right in your pocket.

Your Games. Your Music. Your Way.
Another awesome feature is the Zune's compatibility with the Xbox 360. Plug your Zune into your Xbox 360 to customize the soundtrack in supported games. You also can stream music, pictures, and videos from the Zune software on your PC to your Xbox 360 console using a wireless connection. Whether you're staying in or going out, travelling or working, the Zune can be right there with you, providing loads of entertainment direct from your pocket.


What's in the Box
Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player, headphones, sync cable, and three pairs of foam headphone covers.



Accessories:
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Accessories:

• Incipio Z-140 Vertigo Leather Holster Case for Zune 80 GB (Black)
• Incipio Z-141 Vertigo Canvas Holster Case for Zune 80 GB (Tan)
• Incipio Z-142 Vertigo Canvas Holster Case for Zune 80 GB (Black)
• Incipio Z-130 Leather Wallet Case for Zune 80 GB (Black)
• Incipio Leather Flip Case for Zune 80 GB (Black)

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

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Rating: - * Zune ... It is a very good product, easy to load. My only problem with it is the softeare, you have to go online to download the software, personally myself . I wish it came with a disk, and unfortunately, if you do not keep all your music on your hard drive, the next time you connect your Zune to your computer all the music in the Zune will be deleted out of your Zune, which will add additional expense to the product of purchasing a auxiliary hard drive for backing up your musid, videos, photos etc., to me, this is a very annoying feature that I wish It did not have. Rating: - * A Zune is Exactly What I Was Looking For, The Zune Software Wasn't ... Previously owned a Creative mp3 player (a Zen Microphoto) and junked it after I ran into the same problem that almost everybody who has a Zen has run into - I tried to upgrade the firmware and ended up dead in space. I went searching for a new player, trying to keep in the same memory range (8 Gigs). Never been a fan of the ipods, I feel like I'm paying an unneeded 80 extra bucks for a lower case i. I bought the 2nd gen. Zune and I'm completely satisfied. It has awesome audio quality, and, even though I wasn't looking for it, video quality. It's incredibly easy to organize songs and playlists, and is great whether you're like me and just want to make different playlists for different things and don't care about anything else, or you're really obsessed with putting you're life into an mp3 player with album art and info, friends, and the whole Zune social thing. All being said, the software is sadly lacking, and the fact that Microsoft (1) couldn't design a player that just had a regular old mini usb jack instead of their own custom jack so they could make more money off accessories, and (2) couldn't make their own MICROSOFT product compatible with MICROSOFT software (like Windows Media Player). WMP 11 is a surprisingly versatile player/software, but the Zune can only be run with the Zune software, which while having some nice qualities has really annoying quirks. It always tries to sync with the Zune (so maybe I want my library to be different from my player!), has annoyingly small pop-up windows which you can't make bigger, won't recognize a great deal of video files which it also doesn't have the capability of converting to a file it will recognize, isn't able to change the media information of a file (it will change information in the software and the Zune, but can't change info for you in My Computer like RealPlayer can) and doesn't have a feature that allows you to play songs at one volume. Despite these quirks it is incredibly easy to make and organize playlists, and if you're into it you can find album art for all your songs in a fairly easy manner. If you're like me and just want to load songs into playlists on your player in a one-time deal, this is a great player, and a much better deal than an ipod or creative product. Even if you're obsessive with neatness and organziation, this is an awesome product if you're willing to put up with a few quirks that seem like they could easily be solved in a few software patches. Final Opinion: BUY THIS ITS BETTER THAN AN IPOD AND CHEAPER TOO! Rating: - * The Zune Disappointment ... I ordered my Zune on August 1st. It was supposed to be instock and ship the next day. It didn't. I got the Zune about two weeks later - I had already received the travel kit and the fm-car charger. The Zune has aready died and has been sent back for repair or replacement - it was purchased for a special long airplane trip but probably won't return in time to make the trip. The fm receiver charger doesn't work well in a large metro area - too many fm stations. Now if the Amazon 90 days same as cash with your Amazon Visa doesn't work, the cycle will be complete. Rating: - * Microsoft finally got something RIGHT ... After purchasing 4 or 5 30GB Chocolate Zunes from Amazon.com when they were at "fire-sale" prices, and being totally pleased with them, (I gave some away as gifts) I decided to try the 8GB Zune2. I couldn't be happier! For my needs all my Zunes work perfectly. On my 30GB Zunes I watch mostly wmv videos, many of which I DVR from the cable, remove the commercials, convert them to wmvs using Sony Vegas, and watch them on my Zunes at my convenience. The 8GB Zune2 I just got is used mostly to play streamed talk radio, because I like to listen to Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity at my convenience, plus I play wmv videos while waiting for my wife at the doctor's office. Excellent job Microsoft, you finally got something RIGHT!!! wrh Rating: - * Love this player! ... For those of you who are looking for an alternative to the iPod, you won't be disappointed with this player. The controls are easy to use with a nice layout and very visually appealing. Although the screen is a bit tiny, the picture is exceptional. The player is very lightweight, and can easily be slipped into your pocket and carried around. I also really like the Zune program used to transfer your music onto your device- easy to use with a cool layout. I wish the player had a clock, but I guess we can't have it all.